Wet weather hits farming and football

Climate change is taking its toll on Lancashire, with a 6% increase in rainfall last year.

Deluged farmers and footballers in the region are among many to be affected by the increase in downpours.

A total 1215.5mm of rain fell on the county last year – up 6% on average rainfall between 1971 and 2000. And conservation groups reckon it can only get wetter.

Colin Butfield, of the World Wildlife Federation, said: "Not only was 2007 an incredibly wet year, higher than average temperatures in many months made it the second warmest year ever recorded."

Rain has already called full-time in local football leagues, with fixtures lost to waterlogged pitches.

Chairman of Preston and District Football League Roy Rich said: "In January there have been no games played in Preston because of heavy rain.

"The only games that have been played have been at Preston Arena but only because the pitch can be easily drained."

One high-profile casualty last year was the Royal Lancashire Show, after weeks of heavy rain waterlogged the Ribchester site.